"I felt a lot better than I thought I would be," said the backup point. "Sometimes my foot would get aggravated. There was little discomfort on closeouts and quick change-of-direction things, but as everything else - running was fine."

He pushed through the pain, because he expected it. But as far as his speed and timing:

"Timing, passing-wise, it's terrible," he said. "As far as speed and quickness, everything's fine. I have to work my timing back in."

L-Frank says if his soph is cleared medically, he may give Williams his uniform back tomorrow, just because it always helps to have three point guards (Eddie Gill was waived Wednesday).

Williams doesn't sound like he's in a rush, though.

"I only knew three plays," he said. "I have to pick that up, pick up some timing, and get in shape . . . .so maybe another week, week and a half."

* * * *

The league just released its first All-Star ballot results, for those of you who actually care about a worthless exhibition game played in the dead of winter for the sole purpose of allowing corporate sponsors to turn into slack-jawed autograph seekers for three days.

Anyway, Jefferson's not even on the radar, as far as the forwards go. Not even in the top 10.

Meanwhile, Kidd/Carter are second and third on the guard ballot, behind Wade.

Weird world.

* * * *

For those of you who are still befuddled by the coach's power rotation - and that would include most of you -- here's his latest treatise, which is no different from the one he's always used:

"It's hard, you try to give each guy a chance, and if he's not producing as much, or there's an upcoming matchup that's more favorable to someone else, that guy gets a turn," L-Frank said. "

An example is Sean: He was in the rotation (as the) first big off, he had some games there, and we decided to go in another direction and gave Josh a turn. Josh played well.

"But it's always going to come back around at the end of the day, if guys keep on working. Decisions aren't just based on what you see in the game, it's based on practice, based on preparation, based on a lot of different things."

And Sean? How has he been practicing?

"He's done a good job," the coach said. "He gives a good effort every day."

You learned absolutely nothing from those last five paragraphs, did you?

* * * *

Carter made a funny: Asked whether he heard the boos the other night, he replied, "Of course. I was booing myself, (bleep). I missed a straightaway layup. I barely touched the paint on a 3-point shot I normally could make. It's just things like that that are frustrating for me."

Odd, he still didn't mention defense, because he was actually worse at that end of the floor. Bad containment, blowbys, bailing out on a Tim Thomas drive, you name it.

And no, it's not the ankle he turned in the second half, he said. He came in for treatment yesterday, all is well. "It's the other side - inside this time," he said.

* * * *

Our man in Cuyahoga County, the Fabulous Finnan, talked to LeBron today about Kidd. And imagine his surprise when LeBron initially referred to himself in the third person.

"Could LeBron James play with Jason Kidd?" LeBron James asked, incredulously. "Of course, I could. If there's one guy in the world who says he can't play with Jason Kidd, he's drunk. He's been drinking all day and all night."

Ooof -- no thanks. We hear that leads to migraines.

Anyway, Fabulous asked him to think about that scenario some more.

"If you can land a player like Jason Kidd for our team, it would be great for our team," said LBJ. "You don't want to harp on it. I played with him all summer. He makes the game so much easier for you. All you have to do is run the floor with a guy like Jason Kidd and you're going to get a layup. It would be great, but at the same time, you don't want to get into it because you don't know if it will happen."

We know. Won't happen. Unless someone can come up with a very imaginative four-way.

* * * *

The Nets and the US Marine Corps and are hosting their annual Toys for Tots drive tomorrow. You know the drill: Bring unwrapped toys to the Cavs game and drop it in the bins positioned at every entrance at Izod. Do that, and you'll be entered into a raffle to win some Nets autographed merchandise.